Apologies if this has already been asked and answered many times, but my boyfriend and I are getting a little desperate. We spent the last month traveling in Nepal with chlorine dioxide drops but have run out in Varanasi. We have asked in pharmacies but no one seems to sell anything relating to water purification. We are heading to Lucknow and then Agra over the next day or so and want to know where we can buy water purification tablets or drops, or tilters, etc. Is this not possible in India?

Also I remember reading that some brands of Indian bottled water were found to be unsafe. Is this still the case? If so which ones should we avoid? Many thanks for any answers!

it is not the brand of bottled water but where you buy it that might determine its safety. since it a clear liquid in a clear bottle, you can refuse to buy cloudy or coloured water. Problem is with refilling the empty branded bottles with local water and re-sealing the caps.

Buying at a reputable location, instead of a dodgy one (like overcrowded places) might be the safest option.

Thanks for the responses. Does anyone know about where to get water purifying drops/tablets in India? I see the thread you referred to, Adam, mentioned Zeoline-200 but we've had no luck locating this either. It's a shame as we're now causing a bit of plastic pollution depending on mineral/packaged water. For information, we're now in Jaipur, heading to Pushkar in the next few days.

please don't worry about the plastic pollution, your health is more important.

it looks like the zeoline-200 seems to be only in north east india.

Ef-chlor is another product by hind pharma, and i have called them, and asked that they send me a retailer or wholesaler name in both jaipur and pushkar. will post back if i hear anything either today or tomorrow.

I am not sure of the name i think it was chlorine dioxide. I never had cause to use them as i only needed them as a back up to my water filter in case that broke down when i was in out of the way places. There is a neutralising chemical that i buy sometimes in u.k which after treatment leaves the water tasting preety good without that residue chemical taste. I am sure if you just ask for water purification tablets you will get them, though have you thought of a water filter? saves having to put all those chemicals in your body.If you really have to know the name of the chemicals just google water purification and the answers will come up.

We did try asking for water purification tablets in all the pharmacies we could in Varanasi, and a few when we passed through Lucknow. We have a water filter bottle but it's on its way out... and again, no idea where we'd get a replacement in India. In terms of chemical we were asking for any; we even tried just asking for iodine but they didn't have that either. I guess we just keep trying. If we do find a supplier/brand, we will post back here.

Originally Posted by adam00121it is not the brand of bottled water but where you buy it that might determine its safety. since it a clear liquid in a clear bottle, you can refuse to buy cloudy or coloured water. Problem is with refilling the empty branded bottles with local water and re-sealing the caps.

Are there really people who are refilling bottles with coloured water and trying to sell them?

Anyway, I don't think I will be able to visually make out the difference bottled water and bottled water refilled with Bombay tap water.

sorry, i tried calling the hind pharma guys again, but this time, the message says that they have the phone is switched off. no email reply so far, so not sure.

i think if you ask for tincture iodine, the local medical shops might know. i am not sure if the same thing is used to disinfect wounds and purify water. i just drink the local water, never used any of these mechanisms.